From Copper to Copper Lab Shakil M, Horby L, Shaquile P, Fazal M April 17th 2012 Mr.

Vu Chemistry

Introduction Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions. These reactions are performed between elements on the periodic table. All of the elements on the periodic table have unique properties, structures and abilities. Chemical reactions are often accompanied by formation of a precipitate, evolution of gas, change I colour, or pronounced temperature change. In this activity, you will observe these characteristics of chemical reactions. Each element, when bonded with another element will create a unique and new third, fourth or maybe even fifth substance(s)! This is because of the special properties that each element has to offer. Now, in regards to the lab at hand, this reaction is far different from the reactions that we have performed; but it does show that each element has a unique quality about it, and when combined with another element can create something entirely new. We will see different types of chemical reactions taking place throughout this cycle where we would start from Copper and would go through five chemical reactions and end up with copper. Question What type of chemical reaction is involved in each step of this investigation? Prediction I predict that in reaction A, the type of reaction that will occur is a single displacement reaction and also a decomposition reaction, and the equation is as follows: Cu(s) + 4HNO3(aq) Cu (NO3)2(aq) + 2NO2(g)+2H2O(l). The first product in the reaction is a single displacement of the two reactants, and the other two products are decomposed from the second reactant in the reaction. In reaction B, the type of reaction that will take place is a double displacement reaction and will have an equation of Cu(NO3)2(aq) + 2NaOH(aq) Cu(OH)2(s)+ 2NaNO3(aq). This is a double displacement reaction because it follows the general formula of AB+CDAD+CB. Reaction C will have a decomposition reaction which follows the

formula of ABA+B with a balanced chemical equation of Cu(OH)2(s) CuO(s)+H2O(l). In reaction D, the type of reaction that will take place is a double displacement reaction and has a chemical equation of CuO(s) + H2SO4(l) CuSO4(aq)+ H2O(l). In the final reaction E the type of reaction that will occur is a single displacement reaction which follows the general formula of AB+CAC+B, and has a balanced equation of Zn(s) + CuSO4(aq) ZnSO4(aq) + Cu(s). Materials Please refer to Investigation 4-C: From Copper to Copper Worksheet. Procedure Please refer to Investigation 4-C: From Copper to Copper Worksheet. Observations Reaction A Starting to bubble on hot plate Turns blue colour, when boiling Copper metal expands to spherical-like balls moving fast on surface of solution Amount of solution decreases after boiling Copper balls dissolved after two minutes Distilled water added to make Reaction B When acid added, immediate blue precipitate forms After 37 drops of solution, the solutions turns basic (red litmus to blue) Reaction C Solutions gradually turned darker after 30 seconds of stirring After 8 minutes of the solution getting darker, a black precipitate is formed. Reaction D When acid added, it dissolved the black precipitate turned into clumps Clear blue liquid was left Reaction E When Zinc added it formed copper metal and was very thin and floating on the surface Yellowish Colour of the Solution on the surface Partly Cloudy When acid added the solution turned clear and only copper metal is left

more solution

Analysis 1. The type of reaction that occurs through reaction A through E is a chemical reaction. In Reaction A, a redox reaction (oxidation-reduction) occurred. Copper metal reacted with nitric acid to produce copper (II) nitrate. It also created nitrogen dioxide, and water (which is decomposed from nitric acid). In reaction B, a double displacement reaction occurred for the reasons that when copper (II) nitrate reacts with sodium hydroxide, copper and sodium displace each other to create copper (II) hydroxide and sodium nitrate. In Reaction C, a decomposition reaction proceeded for the reasons that when heat was added to copper (II) hydroxide, it decomposes to form two compounds, copper (II) oxide and water. Reaction D, a double displacement reaction took place since copper (II) oxide, reacted with sulphuric acid to produce two new compounds: copper (II) sulphate, and water. The copper and hydrogen gas replaced each other. In both parts of Reaction E a single displacement reaction occurred. When zinc was placed in copper (II), it formed a new compound with sulphate leaving copper by itself as a metal. This displacement occurred since zinc is above copper on the activity series. When sulphuric acid was added to remove any unreacted zinc, a new compound, zinc (II) sulphate, was produced since zinc is above hydrogen on the activity series.

2. Reaction B: Cu(NO3)2(aq) + 2NaOH(aq) Cu(OH)2(s) + 2NaNO3(aq) Reaction C: Cu(OH)2(s) CuO(s) + H2O(l) Reaction D: CuO(s) + H2SO4(aq) CuSO4(aq) + H2O(l)

Reaction E: CuSO4(aq) + Zn(s) ZnSO4(aq) + Cu(s) ZnSO4(aq) + H2SO4(aq) ZnSO4(aq) + H2(g) 3. H2SO4 reacts with Zinc and not Copper because Zinc belongs to the group 12 elements on the activity series that are above hydrogen on the activity series, meaning that they will displace hydrogen from any acid solution. Applying this information to the lab at hand, H2SO4(aq) reacts with only Zinc, because there is a greater gap between Hydrogen and Zinc than there is between Hydrogen and Copper. So the two elements react faster, neutralizing the H2SO4(aq) quickly, removing the chance of H2SO4(aq) reacting with copper. 4. Yes, another metal could have been used instead of Zinc in step ten. Any metal that is above Copper in the activity series could have been used because the purpose of this metal is to displace Copper from the compound CuSO4 so copper would be regenerated and exist as a metal and therefore completing the objective of this lab. 5. Powdered zinc was used in step 10 rather than a single piece of metal because if a single piece of Zinc was used, it would take a much longer time to dissolve into the CuSO4(aq) solution rendering it impractical. The powdered Zinc is used because in its powdered state Zinc will readily dissolve into CuSO4(aq) saving time. 6. Since we used 0.100g of Copper at the beginning of this lab, 0.100g of Copper should theoretically be recovered at the end of this lab. But through experimental evidence after we had ended up with an approximate .300g of the substance. I say that the experiments quantitative amount should have stayed equal, because of the fact that throughout the entire process of this lab we did not dispose of any of the substances, therefore not reducing the amount of Copper being recovered at the end of the lab. Also, this is true because since the amount of Copper metal is not being added or discarded from the

solutions then theoretically the mass of Copper used in the beginning of this lab should be the same as the amount of Copper recovered at the end. This follows the theory of the Law of Conservation of Matter, which states that neither matter could be created or destroyed.

Conclusion

Pour 0.100 g of Cu in a 50 mL Erlenmeyer flask.

Add 2 mL of 6 mol/L HNO3(aq) to the flask in the fumehood

Warming until brown NO2 forms

Add 6 mol/L NaOH drop by drop NO

Record Observations

Add about 2 mL of distilled water to the flask containing Cu(NO3)2 NO

Has colour indicator changed (i.e. from red litmus to blue?)

YES

Heat mixture

Has a black precipitate formed?

YES

Record observations
Has the black precipitate dissolved?

Record Observations YES

Add 6 mL of 3 mol/L sulfuric acid, once . Then keep stirring with a glass rod. NO

Has the blue colour disappeared?

YES

NO

Add 0.8 g of powdered zinc to copper (II) sulfate in the fumehood. Keep Stirring.

Dispose substance in waste beaker

NO

Record Observations

Add 5 ML of 3 mol/L of sulfuric acid, while stirring the solution. YES

Is there any unreactive zinc left over?

Flow Chart Icons

Delay (i.e. heating)

Action Step

Record Data

Decision Making

In the end, we had errors in our experiment that may have altered the outcome of this experiment. A man made error that was done, may have stemmed from the fact that the copper was weighed wrong in the beginning of the experiment and could been a reason why in the end, the amount of copper left was more than before (it should have followed the Law of Conservation of Mass). Another error made could have been made was not adding the correct amount of acid needed, which stated that you must pour 6 mL of sulphuric acid, but instead poured in a slightly less/more amount into the substance. Copper is used in our everyday lives for the betterment and progress in situations, such as pennies, copper wire, plumbing pipes and etcThe need for copper is high since many uses of appliances, and construction use copper, and big companies are always needing this precious metal.